Surveyor salary in the U.S.
Surveyors in the U.S. earn a median of $75,440 a year ($36.27 an hour), based on BLS data for 50,830 workers.
Pay ranges from $46,880 for the lowest-paid 10% to $125,590 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $80,570, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for surveyors in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $46,880 | $22.54 |
| 25th percentile | $58,170 | $27.97 |
| Median | $75,440 | $36.27 |
| 75th percentile | $98,130 | $47.18 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $125,590 | $60.38 |
| Average (mean) | $80,570 | $38.73 |
Half of surveyors earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $6,286.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,143.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,901.54 |
| Weekly | $1,450.77 |
| Hourly | $36.27 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Surveyor salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| California | $105,330 | 4,520 |
| Alaska | $99,550 | 250 |
| Oregon | $97,070 | 530 |
| Massachusetts | $94,590 | 1,290 |
| Washington | $85,610 | 780 |
| Montana | $84,610 | 350 |
| Minnesota | $83,620 | 980 |
| Maine | $83,200 | 270 |
| Delaware | $82,890 | 120 |
| Nevada | $82,460 | 490 |
| Hawaii | $82,200 | 140 |
| Wyoming | $81,250 | 240 |
| Indiana | $80,510 | 870 |
| Wisconsin | $79,650 | 610 |
| North Dakota | $79,360 | 250 |
| Colorado | $79,310 | 1,620 |
| New York | $78,870 | 1,470 |
| Arizona | $77,490 | 1,360 |
| South Dakota | $77,190 | 180 |
| New Jersey | $77,160 | 900 |
| Iowa | $77,090 | 450 |
| Connecticut | $76,730 | 430 |
| Vermont | $76,450 | n/a |
| Tennessee | $76,340 | 920 |
| North Carolina | $76,210 | 1,530 |
| Illinois | $75,980 | 1,710 |
| Pennsylvania | $75,950 | 1,610 |
| Kansas | $75,860 | 350 |
| New Mexico | $74,230 | 290 |
| Idaho | $73,940 | 250 |
| Utah | $73,230 | 650 |
| Michigan | $72,080 | 1,050 |
| Kentucky | $71,840 | 670 |
| Virginia | $71,070 | 1,360 |
| Ohio | $70,620 | 1,300 |
| Nebraska | $68,050 | 430 |
| Alabama | $66,840 | 910 |
| Florida | $65,480 | 4,000 |
| New Hampshire | $65,130 | 280 |
| Maryland | $64,910 | 950 |
| South Carolina | $63,300 | 1,000 |
| Louisiana | $63,140 | 1,460 |
| Rhode Island | $62,670 | 150 |
| Missouri | $62,110 | 830 |
| West Virginia | $61,520 | 630 |
| Guam | $61,490 | 60 |
| Oklahoma | $61,300 | 960 |
| Texas | $61,150 | 6,410 |
| Mississippi | $58,720 | 570 |
| Georgia | $58,100 | 1,770 |
| Arkansas | $51,800 | 550 |
| Puerto Rico | $44,870 | 140 |
Best-paying metro areas for surveyors
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Yuba City, CA | $133,270 | 50 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $128,600 | 370 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $125,060 | 630 |
| Redding, CA | $124,160 | 40 |
| Vallejo, CA | $123,590 | 50 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $120,000 | 40 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $117,160 | 170 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | $111,400 | 30 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $107,700 | 80 |
| Fresno, CA | $107,230 | 190 |
| Bellingham, WA | $106,590 | 40 |
| Salem, OR | $102,880 | 60 |
| Fargo, ND-MN | $102,270 | 60 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $102,210 | 430 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $101,950 | 970 |
Metro areas with the most surveyors
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 1,960 | $62,960 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 1,400 | $66,030 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 1,300 | $83,610 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 1,140 | $80,060 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 1,100 | $57,260 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 1,070 | $94,970 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 970 | $101,950 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 970 | $79,500 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 910 | $80,970 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 850 | $74,920 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | 790 | $57,580 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | 760 | $66,390 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 670 | $74,390 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | 660 | $63,900 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 630 | $125,060 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Architects, Except Landscape and Naval | $99,280 | $47.73 |
| Landscape Architect | $79,870 | $38.40 |
| Cartographers and Photogrammetrists | $81,390 | $39.13 |
| Civil Engineer | $100,840 | $48.48 |
| Industrial Engineer | $102,440 | $49.25 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $104,110 | $50.05 |
| Electrical Engineer | $120,630 | $58.00 |
| Engineers, All Other | $122,930 | $59.10 |
| Architectural and Civil Drafters | $66,150 | $31.80 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $130,220 | $62.60 |
| Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $78,190 | $37.59 |
| Computer Hardware Engineer | $161,740 | $77.76 |
| Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $66,120 | $31.79 |
| Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $64,950 | $31.23 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 17-1022. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a surveyor make in the U.S.?
The median salary for surveyors in the U.S. is $75,440 a year, or $36.27 an hour. Pay ranges from $46,880 for the lowest-paid 10% to $125,590 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid surveyors make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of surveyors in the U.S. earn at least $125,590 a year. The top 25% earn $98,130 or more.
What is the starting pay for surveyors in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $46,880 a year, and a quarter of surveyors earn $58,170 or less.
How many surveyors work in the U.S.?
About 50,830 surveyors are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.